Join us for a brief visit to the Art and History Museum of Málaga, a small treasure for your summer holiday in Costa del Sol.
The Museo de Málaga saw its beginning in 1973 when the former Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes and Museo Arqueológico Provincial were put together. Today, the museum has eight rooms, the first five dedicated to archaeology with over 15000 pieces in stock and the remaining three rooms to fine arts sporting over 2000 pieces of art. The museum opened to the public in the current premises in December 2016, becoming the biggest museum in Andalusia and the 5th in Spain.
The museum is located in the neo-classic Aduana Palace from 1788 imitating the italian renaissance palaces with four galleries around an arcaded central courtyard. Before, the palace has hosted the Royal Tobacco Factory "Real Fábrica de Tabaco" and the "Subdelegación del Gobierno”, the Government Branch Office in the province.
Málaga has seen numerous civilizations from the ancient Phoenicians to the Romans, the Moorish era and the Christian Reconquest with each era leaving its mark that the museum tries to capture. The former Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes opened as early as in 1916. The museum includes works by by all leading Spanish and, in particular, regional masters. Today, the museum has one of the largest collection of Spanish painting of the XIX century, including the most relevant members the "Escuela Malagueña de Pintura”, Painting School of Málaga. It also holds a collection of Spanish Modern Art until the 1950's with pieces from Picasso among others.
The Archeological section was opened in 1947, integrating the collections of the Museo Loringiano (based on the 19th century collection of the Marquesses of Casa-Loring) and the archeological holdings of the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes. The latter came from digs undertaken in the province since the 1930s, including those in the Alcazaba. During the last decades the museum has been enriched with collection pieces coming from the excavations made by the University of Málaga, many from the prevention interventions of urgent nature that have taken place in the city during the past 20 years.
A bit interestingly, the museum is free for EU citizens. There is a museum shop, a café and a restaurant but they were temporarily closed closed during our visit and we could not review them.
There is a lift between the floors and an accessible loo in each floor.
Museo de Málaga
Plaza Aduana s/n, 29015 Málaga